README.md

Interleaved Sequential Thinking MCP Server

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An MCP server implementation that enables AI to perform interleaved sequential thinking with dynamic tool calling. This server allows AI to alternate between reasoning, tool execution, and result analysis in a flexible "think-execute-reflect" cycle.

Features

• Automatic Phase Detection: No need to specify phase - automatically inferred based on context
• Simplified API: Works like sequential-thinking but with tool execution capabilities
• Three-Phase Interleaved Execution: Seamlessly switch between thinking, tool calling, and analysis phases
• Dynamic Tool Calling: Execute external tools during the reasoning process and adjust strategy based on results
• Context Continuity: Maintain complete context across the entire interleaved cycle
• Flexible Strategy Adjustment: Support for revisions, branching, and dynamic step count adjustment
• Complete History Tracking: Record all thinking steps and tool calls with detailed information
• Resource Control: Built-in limits for tool calls and timeout control to prevent infinite loops
• Test Support: Mock tool results for testing without real tool execution

Use Cases

This tool is designed for:

• Breaking down complex problems that require multiple steps
• Tasks that need external information during the reasoning process
• Problems where strategy needs to be adjusted based on intermediate results
• Situations where the full scope is not clear at the start
• Tasks requiring iterative verification and information gathering
• Problems that benefit from "think-execute-reflect" cycles

Tool

interleaved-thinking

Facilitates interleaved sequential thinking with dynamic tool calling.

Core Parameters:

• thought (string): Your current thinking content
• stepNumber (integer): Current step number (starts from 1)
• totalSteps (integer): Estimated total steps needed
• nextStepNeeded (boolean): Whether another step is needed

Phase Control (OPTIONAL - Auto-inferred if omitted):

• phase (enum, optional): Current phase - 'thinking', 'tool_call', or 'analysis'
  • If omitted, automatically inferred:
    • Provide toolCall → auto-detected as 'tool_call'
    • After 'tool_call' → auto-detected as 'analysis'
    • Otherwise → defaults to 'thinking'

Tool Call Parameters (triggers tool execution when provided):

• toolCall (object, optional):
  • toolName (string): Name of the tool to execute
  • parameters (object): Tool parameters as key-value pairs
  • metadata (object, optional): timeout, retryCount, priority

Advanced Parameters (Optional):

• isRevision (boolean): Whether this revises previous reasoning
• revisesStep (integer): Which step is being reconsidered
• branchFromStep (integer): Branching point step number
• branchId (string): Branch identifier
• needsMoreSteps (boolean): If more steps are needed

Configuration

Usage with Claude Code CLI

Add this to your Claude Code CLI MCP settings:

{
  "interleaved-thinking": {
    "command": "cmd",
    "args": [
      "/c",
      "npx",
      "@jochenyang/interleaved-thinking@latest"
    ],
    "env": {},
    "type": "stdio"
  }
}

Usage with Cursor

Add this to your Cursor MCP settings:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "interleaved-thinking": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@jochenyang/interleaved-thinking"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Usage with Kiro

Add this to your Kiro MCP configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "interleaved-thinking": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@jochenyang/interleaved-thinking"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Usage with VS Code

For manual installation, add the configuration to .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace:

{
  "servers": {
    "interleaved-thinking": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@jochenyang/interleaved-thinking"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Docker

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "interleaved-thinking": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "--rm",
        "-i",
        "jochenyang/interleaved-thinking"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Environment Variables

• DISABLE_THOUGHT_LOGGING: Set to true to disable console logging (default: false)

Building

NPM

npm install
npm run build

Docker

docker build -t jochenyang/interleaved-thinking -f Dockerfile .

Example Usage

Simple Mode (Automatic Phase Detection)

// Step 1: Just thinking (phase auto-inferred as 'thinking')
{
  "thought": "I need to analyze this problem step by step",
  "stepNumber": 1,
  "totalSteps": 5,
  "nextStepNeeded": true
}

// Step 2: Tool call (phase auto-inferred as 'tool_call' because toolCall is provided)
{
  "thought": "Now I need to fetch some data",
  "stepNumber": 2,
  "totalSteps": 5,
  "nextStepNeeded": true,
  "toolCall": {
    "toolName": "fetch_data",
    "parameters": {
      "query": "example"
    }
  }
}

// Step 3: Analysis (phase auto-inferred as 'analysis' because previous step was tool_call)
{
  "thought": "Based on the tool results, I can now conclude...",
  "stepNumber": 3,
  "totalSteps": 5,
  "nextStepNeeded": false
}

Advanced Mode (Explicit Phase Control)

// You can still explicitly specify phase for fine-grained control
{
  "thought": "I want to explicitly control the phase",
  "stepNumber": 1,
  "totalSteps": 3,
  "nextStepNeeded": true,
  "phase": "thinking"  // Explicitly set phase
}

License

This MCP server is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.